From advertising as mobile phones you can connect to the internet, to offering now advanced AI features and impressive camera performance, smartphones have come a long way. In the pursuit of a sleek, premium design with glass backs and foldable screens, some sacrifices had to be made. Most importantly, we had to say goodbye to removable batteries and the 3.5mm headphone jack. Another experience that many forgot was the ability to insert an SD card and expand the phone’s storage in an instant.

advertisement

Services like iCloud and Google One they emerged as solutions to deal with low phone storage and allow users to download photos, videos and other documents to the cloud. Despite how perfect cloud storage has become, you still have to pay a subscription fee every month or year just to access your items.

While it’s true that almost most smartphones released in recent years have ditched the micro SD card slot in favor of larger internal capacities, there are still a few options that cater to those who need expandable storage. Based on expert reviews, we have formulated a list of current generation smartphones with micro SD card support that you can buy. A somewhat more detailed methodology can be found at the end of this read.

advertisement

While Sony rarely tops smartphone lists or buying guides, its Xperia range of devices has been consistently offering high-end hardware for several years now, and has carved out a niche for the camera-centric crowd. For a flagship retail price of $1,399, Sony Xperia 1 V tick all the boxes and then some.

advertisement

Not only do you get a microSDXC slot, but also a 3.5mm headphone jack. Pair that with the phone’s tall 6.5-inch 4K 120Hz OLED screen and you’ll realize that nothing else comes close to being such a complete media powerhouse. In terms of specifications, the Xperia 1 V is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 internal storage – expandable up to 1TB via the shared SIM slot..

Although the new Xperia 1 VI also has a micro SD card slot, the device is unfortunately not available for the US market. Despite being a generation older, the Sony Xperia 1 V offers features that are less likely to be found among most other smartphones. As explored in Tom’s Guide reviewthose who appreciate manual control when clicking photos or recording videos will feel right at home with the Xperia 1 V’s dedicated shutter button and Photography Pro app.

advertisement

Over the years, I’ve seen some of them the best and worst Samsung smartphonesand thanks to the company’s willingness to expand into nearly every price point, there’s a Samsung phone for everyone. At $399, Galaxy A35 represents Samsung’s range of premium budget smartphones. While it cuts corners in areas like performance, camera quality and display resolution, it does get a micro SD card slot that’s missing from even Samsung’s expensive high-end foldables..

advertisement

In addition to expandable storage and a physical SIM slot, you can use an eSIM with Galaxy A35. Conformable CNET reviewThe Galaxy A35 has a set of capable cameras that can capture both indoor and outdoor adventures in good detail. Up front is a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display that refreshes at 120Hz, which is plenty of room to enjoy movies or play games. Although it is devoid of others Galaxy AI featuresyou get Circle to search on the Galaxy A35.

Samsung promises up to four generations of OS updates, which, given its recent track record, adds an extra layer of reliability. You also get an IP67 certification for water and dust, which is often a rarity in budget-oriented smartphones. Although the Galaxy A35 only comes in a 128GB storage variant, a micro SD card can add up to 1TB of expandability.

advertisement

Although there is a market for third parties pens for android devicesnothing comes close to phones like the Galaxy Note and Ultra series that offer this built-in functionality. The Moto G Stylus 5G by Motorola brings that experience down to an affordable $399 — a fraction of what the Galaxy S24 Ultra would cost you.

advertisement

More importantly, the Moto G Stylus 5G has support for expandable storage via a micro SD card slot – allowing you to go beyond the base 256GB of internal storage it comes with. If you decide to store media on the SD card, the Moto G Stylus’ 6.7-inch FHD+ display and Dolby Atmos sound should make for a pleasant movie-watching experience.

In Review by SlashGearwe had no trouble playing considerably high-end games like “Genshin Impact” on the Moto G Stylus 5G, and the 120Hz refresh rate can be used while running less demanding titles. The device has a decent pair of cameras that holds its own against other phones in this segment and even compares well to older flagship devices. Overall, if you’re looking for a phone with stylus support and up to 2TB of expandable storage, the Moto G Stylus is a solid option.

advertisement

At the end of 2023, Nothing launched its sub-brandcalled CMF and has since released a handful of devices ranging from wireless headphones to GaN chargers. The CMF 1 phone incorporates the same playful design as the other products in the company’s catalog. For a starting price of $239 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, the CMF Phone 1 comes in three distinct colors, with an interchangeable back cover and a mechanism to mount various accessories such as a lanyard or a support.

advertisement

The phone has a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits and is backed by a 5,000mAh battery. Like its bigger siblings, the CMF Phone 1 runs Nothing OS, which has a mostly minimal UI with no bloatware. More importantly, the device comes with the option to expand its storage up to 2TB via a micro SD card slot.

It’s worth noting that the CMF Phone 1 is officially sold as part of the Nothing Beta program. While you can pick up the device directly through Amazon, 5G support is very limited in the US – as explained in Android Central Review of the same. However, the CMF Phone 1 is a breath of fresh air in this sea of ​​look-alike smartphones.

When I said Samsung works on any budget, I wasn’t kidding. At $199, Galaxy A15 it costs a fifth of most high-end flagships you can buy, including Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. While you make sacrifices in terms of performance, camera quality and other features, the Galaxy A15 is a perfectly capable entry-level Android smartphone. Ironically, support for expandable storage via its micro SD card slot ticks a box that most expensive phones miss..

advertisement

You can still enjoy content on the phone’s 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen, which refreshes at a respectable 90Hz. Android Authority Review The Galaxy A15 boasts its 5,000mAh battery that can last two days between charges. While performance might be down compared to other phones, Samsung’s OneUI skin on Android has improved considerably over the past few years.

The Galaxy A15 has a triple camera setup on the back that houses a wide, ultra-wide and a macro sensor. The phone has a predominantly plastic build with visible bezels all around – but still manages to pack a fingerprint scanner on its side for quick and secure authentication. Like the Galaxy A35, Samsung promises up to four years of OS updates and five years of security patches.

advertisement

The choices in this list were made based on expert reviews from trusted publications like Android Authority, CNET, Android Central, and Tom’s Guides. All the phones mentioned here were released in the recent past and should receive timely Android updates from their manufacturers. We’ve also made sure there’s a healthy variety of options on this list – from the premium internals of the Sony Xperia 1 V to the essentials offered by the affordable Samsung Galaxy A15.

advertisement

Devices like the Moto G Stylus 5G and CMF Phone 1 also bring some unique aspects like a stylus or interchangeable back covers. You can buy some of the the best microSD cards for your Android phone for not a lot of money either. mMost of these phones have a dedicated micro SD card slot, while some opt for a shared SIM slot. Regardless, it shouldn’t take more than a minute to insert an SD card and enjoy expanded storage on your phone.